Page 245 of The Cruelest Undead

His father stopped him.

“We don’t have souls, so it won’t hurt, right?” he asked. “It will be painless?”

He put his head down on the table and the gates opened. The pain came pouring out, and Flynn was so overwhelmed by the burden on his shoulders.

There were days it was easy to carry.

Today was not one of those days.

His mother and father both touched him, and they tried to reassure him.

“We’ll see you again.”

Only, he knew the truth.

He was immortal.

There was no way he’d ever see them again. They were back to being just out of his reach, and just memories. As long as Rinnon lived, he lived.

A God didn’t die easily.

“Thank you for letting us meet your wife and child,” his mother said. “When she gets older, tell her that we loved her the second we held her. She’s an angel.”

He nodded.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Mom and Dad. This is exactly what I feared would happen. I’m sorry I didn’t spend the whole day with you instead of…”

She kissed him on the cheek.

“Flynn, remember when you were a little boy, and you were sad?”

He nodded.

“What did I tell you?”

“That pain is how you know you’re alive and there was nothing better than feeling.”

She held his hand.

“This pain will fade, but you must feel again. You got to see us, and we got to see you. We’re going some place safe. You just take care of yourself, my sweet boy. I love you.”

He touched her cheek.

“I love you, too, Mom, and if I could keep you here, I would.”

She hugged him.

When he set her free, he stared at his father.

“You became the man I thought you would be, Flynn. For a while, I thought you’d only love your job, but you found out that there was more. I’m proud of you, and I love you.”

“I love you, too, Dad. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. This was a good day. Your mother and I got to be together again, and we saw your daughter. Can we be together?” he asked, holding his wife’s hand. “Can your God make that happen?”

I wish I could, Mate. That’s not my decision. That’s Death’s.

Well, that said it all.

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